2017 USTA Southern Annual Award Winners

The USTA Southern Section has a comprehensive awards program that annually recognizes excellence on and off the tennis court. Each year, award winners are honored at an awards ceremony held during the USTA Southern Annual Meeting in January.

The USTA Southern Section Awards Committee accepts individual award nominations. The nomination process is open to volunteers and staffers of USTA Southern and its nine states. If you are a member of the Section with an award recommendation, please contact your state office for direction. Volunteers and staffers of USTA Southern and its nine states with questions on submitting a nomination, please contact Laura Fanjoy at 770-368-8200. Certain award winners are not selected by the Awards Committee and therefore those nomination forms are not available or accepted.

Adult Tournament of the Year
Presented to a USTA sanctioned adult tournament in the Southern Section that has best demonstrated the high standards upheld by the USTA in organizing and conducting a sanctioned adult tournament. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.Crawfish Cup; Baton Rouge, LA

Charlie B. Morris Jr. Service Award

Presented in memory of Charlie Morris to the volunteer who best exhibits exemplary volunteer spirit at the local, State, Sectional and/or National levels.Jane Gamble; Paducah, KY

Community Tennis Association of the Year
The Community Tennis Association of the Year Award recognizes strong leadership, outstanding program offerings, volunteer recruitment and community relationships by a Community Tennis Association while developing the growth of tennis within the Southern Section.Charlotte Tennis Association; Charlotte, NC

DeWitt Redgrave III Junior Achievement Award

Given in memory of DeWitt Redgrave, III, this award is presented to an outstanding Southern junior ranked in the boys and girls 18-and-under divisions, in recognition of their tennis performance and sportsmanship.Patrick Kypson; Raleigh, NC
Abi Forbes; Raleigh, NC

Educational Merit Award
Recognizes an individual who has developed an outstanding tennis program, which provides leadership and inspiration in junior programs for schools, colleges, parks and playgrounds and benefits the growth of tennis in the USTA Southern Section. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.Tammy Van Cleef; Mooresville, NC

Gerrie Rothwell Award
Presented annually to a volunteer within the USTA Southern Section who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the USTA League program. This award is given in honor of the late Gerrie Rothwell, former State League Coordinator of Arkansas.Cookie Guarini; Greensboro, NC

Jacobs Bowl
The highest award presented by the USTA Southern Section, this award is presented to a volunteer who has exhibited outstanding service to the USTA Southern Section.Eleanora Mauritson, Fairhope, AL

Jim Russell Junior Tournament of the Year
Presented to the USTA-sanctioned junior tournament in the Southern Section that best demonstrates the USTA and USTA Southern Section standards of organizing and conducting a sanctioned junior event. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.TN State Jr. Qualifying Championships 16U-18U; Chattanooga, TN

Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year

This award is presented to an individual in the USTA Southern Section who has been outstanding in the coordination of Junior Team Tennis league play.Michele Lee; Lake Norman, NC

Local League Coordinator of the Year
Presented annually to an individual in the USTA Southern Section who has been outstanding in the coordination of league play at the local level.Tanya Capeling; Brentwood, TN

Mac MacDougal Tennis Official of the Year
Presented annually to a tennis official who has made outstanding contributions to the cause of tennis officiating in the USTA Southern Section. The award is named for Mac MacDougal, who served as an esteemed official for many decades. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.Carla Bragenberg; Memphis, TN

Marc Kaplan Media Excellence Award
Presented to an individual or organization in the USTA Southern Section who has most contributed to the game of tennis by disseminating information about the sport to the general public. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.Owen Hassell; Wilmington, NC

Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award
Given annually to a staff member or volunteer who exemplifies extraordinary spirit in growing the game of tennis in the USTA Southern Section, the award is named for Marilyn Sherman, long-time USTA Southern Director of Adult Competition and Leagues.Lenny Simpson; Wilmington, NC

Member Organization of the Year
Presented annually to a member organization in the USTA Southern Section to recognize outstanding service to the local community, to the organization members, and to the game of tennis. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee. In addition, the Southern winner is then submitted for USTA National award consideration.Tuscaloosa Tennis Association; Tuscaloosa, AL

Mickey McNulty Family of the Year
Given in memory of Judge Mickey McNulty, the award is presented annually to a family that resides in the USTA Southern Section that has been outstanding in its promotion of tennis. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee. In addition, the Southern winner is then submitted for USTA National award consideration.The Andrew & Cindy Giannelli Family; Moncks Corner, SC

NJTL Chapter of the Year Award
Presented annually to an NJTL Chapter within the USTA Southern Section that has demonstrated excellence in administration of its NJTL programs.MACH Academy, Inc.; Martinez, GA

No-Cut Starfish Award

The No-Cut Starfish Award is presented to a high school tennis coach in the Southern Section who implements a no-cut policy, serves as a positive role model and makes a difference by spending the extra time and effort to ensure that young players experience the fun of representing their school tennis teams.John Herring; Lexington, KY

Ozaki/Hastings Junior Sportsmanship Award

Named to honor the work and dedication put in by Bill Ozaki, long-time Director of Junior Tennis for the USTA Southern Section, and Sandy Hasting, long-time Managing Director of Junior Competition for the USTA Southern Section. It is given to a junior player who best exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in tournament play and the finest traditions of the great sportsmen of tennis past and present.TBD

President’s Recognition Award

TBD

Slew Hester Male & Female Players of the Year

Given in memory of past USTA Southern Section President William E. "Slew" Hester, this award is presented annually to a ranked male and female adult or senior player in the USTA Southern Section in recognition of their outstanding tennis performance.Maxime Buyckx; Marietta, GA
Wendy McColskey; Durham, NC

Southern Tennis Professional of the Year
Presented annually to a tennis professional in the USTA Southern Section who demonstrates a significant contribution to the game of tennis through their promotion of the USA Tennis Programs and their support of the USTA Mission. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.Lamar Scott; Atlanta, GA

Special Tennis Event of the Year
Presented annually to a special tennis event in the USTA Southern Section that has been exemplary in the promotion and support of tennis. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.Paws at the Net, Benefiting CARE for Animals; Little Rock, AR

Team Tennis Event of the Year
Presented annually to a USTA Southern Section event that best demonstrates outstanding execution of a team event. The winner of this award is selected by the Awards Committee.ServeAces! Bar League; Cornelius, NC

Tennis On Campus Club of the Year
Presented to club that has made significant contributions to the USTA Tennis On Campus program on its campus.University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Chattanooga, TN

Tennis On Campus Leader of the Year
Presented to leader that has made significant contributions to the USTA Tennis On Campus program on his/her campus.